National Republican., 1887-03-09
Tho Hon. Thomas II. Reed on the
Forty-NInth Congress.

Mr.. Reed, Of Maine, has made so excel
lent an Indictment Of the imbecility Of the
forty.ninth Congress that we reproduce 1t
from the New York Tribune Mr.. Reed
has only enumerated some OF the sins OF
omission and commission of the late Con-
gress, but these are Of such character that
they should lie as heavy on the souls of these
failures in lawmaking as did Rlchards's Wis
ions at Bosworth field:
The forty-ninth Congress has failed to do its
most important work. l perceive that those
who are thankful for little are trying, by the
enumeration in separate lines of number of
small things, to make n catalogue which will
show quantity If not quality. If the couatry Is
disposed TO felcitate itself over the presidential
succession bill, which gave the President a
power of attorney to choose his successor aud
substituted the possibility Of Bayard for the
possibility Of sherman or over the presiden-
tial count bill, which provides for contin'
gency as liable to happen az tin as lightning to
strike twice In the same place; or over the in
teIstate commerce bill, the largest uncertainty
that any nation ever enacted-the country
must be very easily satisfied If the country
| will pause and reflect and summon to Its recol.
| lection the memory of what was expected of
I
| of the three great measures which were then
| deemed Of importance, every one is still in the
mturc. These measures were reduction OF
the surplus, defense of the country,
and admission Of three states in the great
| northwest. In the House Of Representatives
| not one of these measures has received even
| consideration, not one OF them has risen to the
| dignity of a debate. Not even eloquepce ha:
| been wasted on them. On the surplus twice
Mr.. Morrison with his column, marched up O
| hill and then marched down; twice Mr.. Ran
dali. with his contingent could have beer
seen with good glasses making time on what
seemed to be bill until he faded from OH
vision behind long letter, which, IL he un
derstood himself, marks him rs the most acute
man of this or any age. Meantime the surplus
remains. OF course the administration viii
now have to buy bonds, aud worry the bank
or hoard and worry the country. 1t is strange
how much reform looks like incapacity. The
great call for Notifications and great guns did
not have its origin in partisan clamor, Samue
]. Tilden spent the thoughts Of his last days or
the defenseless condition of his country. The
Democratic newspapers We'd with the Repub
licans in reiterating his demand. Yet tht
House of Representatives, with con
temptuous disregard OF the needs OF the coun
try, gave no forlifcation or ordnance bill fo
either session. And the country remains no
only without gins, but without the capacity
and appliances 10 make them. 1t must b,
fifteen months before another appropriation
| bill can pass. IL will take two years to bull
an eight-inch and four to build sixteenincl
gun. Hence we close the forty.nnth Congress
with no gun for fertilization possible fo
more than three years.
Mr.. Randall in the explanation he causet
to be given OF his failure. thought he coult
have agreed to do something If he had haC
time. AS Mr.. Cutcheon pointed out he haC
had the genate bill nine months. The trutl
was he didn't want time but eternity, AM
thus far he seems to have got 1t. The truth |
the whole Democratic party-both wings--ar
sirugglirg to increase tho surplus by refusin
needed expenditures, so that they may make
flank attack on protection They are not will
ing TO meet the question openly and will shou
down with the surplus when they mea
"down with the tariff"
The refusal to admit the three great terri
tories was a denial of the right of local sell
government TO 100000 American citizens, VIII
have made a great empire In the northwes
SO far from being able to justify Its action 1
this matter the House never dared to vote o
the question. So haprant was the Injustice tht
no one dared to face 1t. The reason was nj
only obvious but was stated Ia full house an
not denied. 1t was because 1t was feared thl
the votes of the new states would be Republ
| can.
Ibave no time to talk TO you about the al
propriations, but am told they will be
large in total as those of last session. whic
exceeded the three preceding years by an ave
age of Si5 100000, and this Notwithstanding th
| failure OF the deficiency bill and the river On
harbor. Decidedly, II anybody wishes to
happy over the last Congress, 1t cannot be ov,
the House end oft